The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1887-04-02
EyDGDditurGS for Year Ending Sent, 81, 1896
Statement in Regard to the Public Schools
Of Cecil County.

There is published yearly full report of the
Public Schools OF Maryland, and of Cecil county
among the rest As this report for 1885, though
in the hands OF the printer. will not be out for
some weeks yet, herewith transmit an abstract
OF that report. which contains the most material
facts which the taxpayers are interested in
knowing.
From that abstract it will be seen that the
whole cost OF the schools, per pupil for all expen-
SEES OF the school system, including everything,
even the notorious book fee, amounts to Il small
fraction over a dollar month, and that the
schools have been kept open for 81 months, which
is higher average than most OF the States keep
their -chuGis open and also at a lower cost.
Since the present Board OF commissioners came
into office they have built about 30 school
houses in the county, OF the best kind and turn-
ishcd for the most part with the best furniture.
These houses have been erected at a cost varying
from $500 to S. 600, with the exception OF three
four that cost less.
In the First district there are new houses, in
the Second. III the Third, in the Fourth, in
the Fifth 5 in the Sixth. in the Seventh, 4 in
the Eighth. and i in the Ninth. These schools
supplied with good furniture, fuel, books, and
every tnn4 necessary tor children to have in order
10 obtain good common education; sufficient
even To make them teachers themselves,-for
some OF the schools OF Cecil county furnish some
OF the best teachers we have.
The State report OF 1850 shows the cost per pu-
pill III each county OF the State. the number OF
term. the schools were kept open, and the aver
age teachers salary. From this report it will be
seen that Cecil loses nothing by comparison with
most of the counties OF the State.
From another table which can be published 1t
Will he that the amount OF State tax recey ed
by Cecil is reduced from Sl6.3Sg42 in 1871 jthe
highest receivcd), to SlO3ss.ls in 1885, and for the
last years has been ell, 7670S and ll.6S7.To.
rhe book fees have been reduced from $90s2.3I in
ISL 50 9J6. 10 in 1855: while the schools have
increased from II to 50, and the number Of teach
ers IRON II IN 1871 to l22 i'll 1855.
1t must be kept III mind that the unequal dis
tributIon of the public school tax operates I'M
Justly aud nluriuusly to Cecil county. This coun-
Nv DAYS more public school tax into the State
Treasury than 1t receives IRON it, and l think
| +E,F f1rta.,r only
L8O which do. The distribution of this tax ac-
ruriIn- to the present method is that the rhfe
school fund is distributed on the basis OF the
whole population, both white and black, and the
cOlureu school fund oi 100000 upon the basis OF
the cUIored population, thus giving those coun-
ties that contain Il large colored population a
greatly increased proportion.
For example: Charles county, which contains
about. if not altogether. as many colored people
as whites have not only their share of the $780,,
uu0 fund Tor cUOred schools, but the white schools
receive an increased amount by reason of the
| large number of their colored population; while
Cecil. having small colOred population. receives
| but "a small proportion. No that TOR erery pupil
rsUOreG Charles county receives from the State an
amount Of ORR $40. phiie Cecil receives Si So
This Inequality has so effected Garrett county
az to cause them to forfeit the last quarterly ap
preparation from the State.
This statement ought to arouse the attention of
| every taxpayer to the injustice with which Cecil
county is treated on this subject. The inequality
OF tins distribution has been brought to the nstice
OF Your representatives in the General Assembly
| nothing has been done. 1t is high time that the
tax pay erS should move in this matter and see If
this wrong cannot be righted. J. SQU1ER,
Apr 2-lt Secretary and Treasurer.